TCJS Cites Lavaca County Jail for a Medication Distribution Violation
Following a special inspection of the Lavaca County Jail, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) issued an inspection report to the Hallettsville facility on May 13, 2025. The next day, TCJS formally notified the jail of its failure to meet at least one minimum standard, issuing a notice of non-compliance. As a result, Lavaca County Jail has been added to the non-compliance list on the TCJS website.
TCJS inspectors found that Lavaca County Jail has failed to comply with one rule under health services that pertains to the distribution of prescription medications, as follows:
- During the investigation of complaint case #41076, documentation revealed that the MARS sheet had missing documentation showing medication was administered in accordance with the written instructions of a physician. During the month of April 2025, there were 17 of 322 missed medications.
Lavaca County Jail is located at 38 FM 318 Road in Hallettsville, Texas 77964. The bed capacity is 48.
Families of Deceased Jail Inmates Allege that Medical Neglect Was a Factor
Niki Capaci died at age 40 during incarceration in Goshen, New York’s Orange County Jail. Ms. Capaci’s family raised many questions about alleged medical neglect and lack of appropriate treatment for withdrawal symptoms. The address of Orange County Jail is 110 Wells Farm Rd, Goshen, NY 10924.
The 2017 death of Kelly Coltrain on her third night in Mineral County Detention Center occurred after she was allegedly denied requests for help with withdrawal symptoms. Evidence shows that she was placed in a cell where 30-minute checks were required, but the checks rarely occurred. Video cameras recorded her vomiting, sleeping often, and eating little over a three-day period. Ms. Coltrain was seen convulsing on her third night in jail, after which movement ceased, and no one checked on her for nearly 6 hours. The address of Mineral County Jail is 105 A St, Hawthorne, NV 89415.
Past research by the U.S. Justice Department found that at least 63% of the people sentenced to jail met the definition of addiction. The study also found that less than 20% of jail inmates with addiction issues participated in drug treatment in any form. In addition, only 1% received detoxification services.
Other studies show that when withdrawal deaths occurred in jails, the fatalities were often preventable. Detainees have a right to medical attention for potentially fatal symptoms of withdrawal. Opioid withdrawal is rarely fatal; however, when complications such as dehydration go untreated, inmates often die. Withdrawal symptoms from alcohol and benzodiazepines are particularly hazardous and, if not properly managed, can be fatal.
Dedicated Legal Advocacy for Jail Neglect and Medical Failures
If your loved one died while in a jail’s custody and you believe it was due to mistreatment, lack of medical care, or negligence, taking immediate legal steps can be critical. At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C. we focus on representing families in cases of in-custody deaths resulting from abuse or neglect. Our team understands the sensitive nature of these cases and works diligently to pursue justice and accountability.
We’re here to support you. Reach out—by phone, text, or through our online contact form—for a confidential, no-cost consultation.
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